The Catamounts, playing only their fifth year of varsity football, are on their way to the playoffs for the third straight year by finishing the regular season with a 35-18 win over Green Hope Friday night on the Falcons' field.

"It feels great,” said Duke-bound tight end Daniel Beilinson, a third-year varsity player. “When I came here, we were always the underdog. We're still the underdog sometimes, but we keep improving. It's a great atmosphere in our locker room. We know we can win.”

Panther Creek improved to 8-3 overall and 6-2 in the Tri-Nine Conference after sharing the league title a year ago. Green Hope finished its season with a 2-9 overall record and 0-8 mark in conference play.

"It's a lot of hard work in the spring and summer – not just the fall,” Panther Creek head coach Wayne Bragg said. “We have camaraderie on this team and their attitude is a big part of it. You get that in the offseason. We take pride in it. And then you work as hard as you can when the season starts.”

Panther Creek was leading 35-0 midway through the third quarter before Bragg began emptying his bench.

The Catamounts methodically moved the ball down the field in the first half behind a veteran offensive line of Beilinson, senior tackle Jeremy Plunkett, senior guard Ramsey Nasrallah, senior center Jake Rorick, junior guard Mike Sutton and the only first-year starter among them, junior tackle Chris Hartsfield.

"Our offensive line has gotten better all year,” Beilinson said. “We fixed some mistakes early in the year and now we're ready (for the playoffs).”

Panther Creek's first score was 10-play, 50-yard drive after the Catamounts forced a punt. David Mayaka scored on a 2-yard run. The big gain was a 16-yard reception by Beilinson.

An interception set up Panther Creek's second touchdown as Catamounts took over at the Green Hope 23 and scored four running plays later on Mayaka's 9-yard run.

The third score in the second quarter was a 10-play, 82-yard drive that Mayaka finished with a 6-yard run. All 10 snaps were running plays with the big gain a 22-yarder by Dorrel McClain.

The Catamounts took a 28-0 lead when Jamel Ross caught a pass from Jordan Jensen over the middle and broke two tackles to en route to a 34-yard catch-and-run TD.

Panther Creek's final touchdown was a 16-yard catch by Jalen McKoy from Jensen with 6:35 left in the third quarter.

Mayaka finished the night 20 carries and 110 yards and three touchdowns. Jensen was 3 of 7 for 66 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

Two of Green Hope's three touchdown came after Bragg began substituting and were set up by turnovers.

The Falcons' first score came after a fumble gave them possession at Panther Creek's 32-yard line. Dylan Hartigan caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from John Nassif.

The second touchdown came after an interception by Jonathan Arias gave the Falcons the ball at the Catamounts' 19-yard line. Nikky Newsome scored on a 1-yard run.

DeMario Williams' 42-yard run set up the third touchdown the Falcons' scored on a 9-yard pass from Nassif to Tyler Baddick with 1:12 to play.